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Solutions

Repeal Restrictions on Gun Trace Data

    Repeal Restrictions on Gun Trace Data

      What does this solve?

      First enacted by Congress in 2003 as a rider to an appropriations bill, the Tiahrt Rider has restricted public access to data about gun crime and firearm trafficking.

      The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) maintains data in its Firearms Trace Systems database, pertaining to gun recoveries all over the country. Starting in 2003, Congress enacted limitations on ATF’s ability to use appropriated funds to disclose trace data. The rider has been applied in an overly-expansive manner to bar disclosure of critical data under FOIA to the public. Early versions of the Tiahrt Riders even impeded law enforcement’s ability to access trace data. Blocking this data from disclosure protects corrupt gun dealers and hinders localities from enacting effective, targeted gun crime solutions. Repealing the Tiahrt Rider would help address gun violence nationwide.

      Which states require crime guns to be traced?

      12 states have adopted this policy

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Alabama has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Alaska has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Arizona has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Arkansas has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      California has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Colorado has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Connecticut has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Delaware has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Florida has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Georgia has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Hawaii has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Idaho has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Illinois has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Indiana has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Iowa has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Kansas has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Kentucky has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Louisiana has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Maine has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Maryland has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Massachusetts has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Michigan has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Minnesota has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Mississippi has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Missouri has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Montana has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Nebraska has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Nevada has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      New Jersey has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      New Mexico has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      New York has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      North Carolina has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      North Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Ohio has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Oregon has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Rhode Island has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      South Carolina has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      South Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Tennessee has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Texas has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Utah has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Vermont has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Virginia has adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Washington has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      West Virginia has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

      Crime Gun Tracing

      Wyoming has not adopted this policy

      How it Works

      Repealing the 2012 Tiahrt Rider would aid both the public in understanding where crime guns in their communities come from and policymakers in crafting targeted solutions to gun crime.

      Crime gun tracing is a critical data source—it can help solve gun crimes, and it can also help identify where the guns used in crimes are originating from and wider trends in gun trafficking. But since 2003, annual riders attached to U.S. Department of Justice appropriation bills have prohibited ATF’s use of appropriated funds to disclose most of this important data with the public. This Rider is known as the Tiahrt Rider or the Tiahrt Amendment—named for Representative Todd Tiahrt who first introduced the Rider. At the time of its passage, Rep. Tiahrt was quoted saying, “I wanted to make sure I was fulfilling the needs of my friends who are firearms dealers. NRA officials were helpful in making sure I had my bases covered.” This data-blocking measure serves to protect corrupt dealers and hinder policymakers.

      Congress enacted the current and only operative version of the Tiahrt Rider in 2012. The 2012 Tiahrt Rider exempts from the general funding limitation disclosures to federal, local, and foreign law enforcement or intelligence. It also includes language, explaining that the Rider should not be construed to prevent: (A) disclosing statistical information related to the production of licensed importers or manufacturers; (B) the exchange of information among law enforcement officials; and (C) publishing annual statistical reports on ATF regulated products and statistical aggregate data on firearms trafficking and misuse.

      By the numbers

      Featured Resources

      Repeal Restrictions on Gun Trace Data

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      Did you know?

      On average, approximately 13,966 firearms are reported lost or stolen to the ATF by firearms dealers every year.

      “Data & Statistics: Federal Firearms Licensee Statistics Theft / Loss Reports, 2018 to 2022”. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. (2022). https://bit.ly/2nigapL